Our vision and mission

We train and deploy medical teams and specialists to save lives when epidemics, conflict and natural disasters hit. As disasters grow more frequent, severe and complex there has never been a greater need to respond quickly and effectively. We believe in a world prepared to help.

It started in 1988 with a team of eight Manchester clinicians led by our founder Professor Tony Redmond, when a huge earthquake ripped through Armenia. Teams continued to deploy throughout the 1990’s and 2000s, and when Ebola struck West Africa in 2014 UK-Med stepped up. We recruited and trained one hundred and fifty UK clinicians who worked alongside local medical teams, other NGOs and the Department for International Development to bring the outbreak under control.

As disasters grow more frequent, severe and complex there has never been a greater need to respond quickly and effectively. In 2017 over two hundred million people were in need of humanitarian assistance – 6 people every second have their lives impacted by disaster. We believe in a world prepared to help. Using our deployment experience, commitment to clinical excellence and unparalleled access to UK medical expertise we provide surge support that saves lives and build resilient health systems.

We have five main project areas:

International emergency medical response: We are partners in the UK Emergency Medical Team, funded by UK Aid from the British people, ready to deploy within twelve hours to disasters anywhere in the world.

Strengthening global response to major infections disease outbreaks: When Ebola hit West Africa, we stepped up. We are now working alongside partners to ensure when disease outbreaks hit, healthcare systems are ready to respond.

Training emergency medical teams: We train local, regional and international medical teams across the world. Our training, both in the UK and overseas, is regarded as world-class.

Individual deployments: Where there are gaps in global expertise we deploy specialists.

A world prepared to respond: We work with academics and other leading NGOs to constantly improve technical standards across the sector, ensuring people caught in disasters receive the best possible care.

Our work would not be possible without our members: a community of clinicians and experts working mainly within the UK’s NHS who are committed to humanitarian response. Our membership training allows clinicians to adapt and develop their skills for a disaster zone, learning that also benefits the UK health system.

We believe in a world prepared to help when disasters hit. We’re ready. Join us